Improvement in machines for finishing horseshoe-nails



ZSheets-SheetlQ E. SUCKOW.

MACHINE 'FORFINISHIN'G H-ORSESHOE NAILS. No. 177,768. Patented May 23,1876.

WITNESSES JNVENTUR N-PEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRIPHER. WASHINGTQN. D U. V

- 2Sheets-SheetZ. E.- SUGKOW. I MACHINE FOR FINISHING HORSESHOE NAILS.

7 No .177.768z

B. m F

Patented Mgy 23,1876.

WITNESSES;

N STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

' EDMUND s oKow, for BUFF LQ, NEW YORK.

' IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES, FOR FINISHING I-IoRsEsI-IoE- AILs.

Specific ation forming part of Letters Patent No.177,768, dated May 23, 1 876 application filed March 29, 1876.

'Toall whom it may concern;

I Be it known that I, EDMUND SUcKow, of Buffalo, in the'county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a Machine for'Trimming, Pointing, and stiffening Horseshoe- Nails, of which the following is a specification:

I My presentinvention relatestoimprovements on a machine fortrimming, pointing, and stiffeninginachine-forged horseshoe-nails; and it consists in the arrangement, with a stationary punch, of a movable die, and a rocking shaping-bar operating within said die in suchmannor that the nail, after being'properly trimmed by the action of the punch and die, is pointed and rolled or pressed before itleaves said die, the said shaping-bar subsequently acting as a stripper-to deliver the nail from the die. The particulars of construction and operation of my machine will be hereinafter more fully explained.

In the accompanyingsheets of drawings, ;which serve to-illustrate my invention more fully, and, therefore, form a part of this speciare fastened, by suitable means, two standards, B B, of such height as to admit the op- -erating parts'below the main shaftO situated jnthe upper end of said standards. These standards are provided with slot-holes D .properly finished, and serving as guides for the "reciprocating cross-head, or, more ,properly, die-stock E, the upper extremitiesof these .slot-holes-being semicircular, and serving as f bearings for themain shaftO, in conjunction iwithboxesh, which are made adjust-able by the keys G passing transversely through the standards below the said boxes F. O, ashere- It is, pro- 1 ,inbefore said, is the main shaft.

.vided with two-eccentrics, H B, one on each f side of the standards B, and with the balthe nail.

ance-wheel I on one and the main driving and in cross-heads of steam-engineam'. 0., ,gibs

properly provided with set-screws. P P are two die-plates set edgewise into the die-stock E, as shown in Figs l and 3. These dieplates are beveled on one of their edges, fittingcorresponding recesses in the die-stock, and adjusted-for wear by the screws E, and they are curved to give the proper shape to Contrary to the usual practice I make the interior space between thedieplates Pl? parallel, z. 6., without clearance. This I have done to better discharge the nail after it is compressed, which discharge would be very troublesome were the space :between said plates tapering towardthe cutting-edges of said die-plates. Q is the punch set into the block R, and retained therein by the plate R, and a bolt passing through said plate into the punch-block. Its contour is that of the nail to be produced, and fits the die-plate snugly.

The punch-block is made adjustable by means of the adjusting-screws S. These screws wedge the punch-block intothe opening Tin the base A, and allow the shifting of the punch until it exactly meets thedies P P. Instead of these screws, I may provide the bed-plate with lugs and set-screws for such adjustment. U is a rocking shaping-bar, operating within the dies P P, and die-block E. Its lower extremity is curved and provided with the toe U, as shown in Fig. 2, and fits the spacebetween the die-plates P P snugly. V V are two flat springs, arranged on each side of the shaping-bar U, and connected therewith by. the slotted stud V passing through said bar. They serve to elevate the bar U, as will be hereinafter more fully described,;' 5

tendency to open in front.

X X are two cam-shaped guides on the upper extremity of the bar U, secured to the brace-piece a and engaging with the rollers Y Y, attached to the said bar below the guides. a is a brace-piece connecting the two standards B B in the rear. To this bracepiece are attached the hereinbefore-mentioned cam-guides X X, and also the return bent spring I), which is connected to the pressure or shaping bar U by the link or rod 0. d is a shackle, provided with a' set-screw, 6. It passes through the die-stock E, as indicated in Fig. 3, and serves to retain the die-plates P P in proper position, and also to strengthen the said die-stock, which, being slotted, has a g are four springguides, attached with one end to the standards, and reaching with the other end to within a short distance of and above the punch Q,-

the point of suspension or attachment being considerable above the opposite extremity, for the purpose hereinafter. mentioned. it is a curved-blade spring, attached to the bedplate A with one end, and reaching to near the punch Q. Its free end is provided with two projections, the lower one of which is about even with the surface of the punch, and the distance between them equal to the nailhead to be introduced between these projections.

The operation of my machine is as follows: A forged nailis introducedinto the projections on the'spring h to reach over the punch Q,

' the spring-guides g assisting in placing the nail properly and nicely over the punch. Now, the shaft 0 revolving, the eccentrics H H move the die-block E downward, and the dies P P, coming in contact with the nail while descending, shear the same to proper size. During the downward movement of the dies, the springs g are bent downward, and recede from the punch to allow the cuttings to pass into the openings T in the bed-plate A. By the time the die-block E has reached its lowest point, the projecting cam L has passed over the head of the shaping-bar U, and forced the same downward for some distance, and the roller M has just come in contact with the stop m on the front of said shaping-bar. This downward movement of the shaping-bar U has the effect of, first, releasing the anti-friction rollers Y Y from the curves Z; second, to press with its toe U upon the point of the nail and beveling the same; and third, to depress the springsVV. As the cam continues its movement in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, it will move the upper end of the bar U along, causing the lower end to roll over the nail between the dies, and resting upon the punch, and to press the same with considerable force, which may be increased or diminished by either providing the punch-stock It with set-screws to rise or lower the punch Q, or by placing strips of metal under the punch. The effect of the shaping-bar rolling over the nail is to compress the same between the dies, which'will harden and stifi'en it, and at the same time cause it to lengthen.

When the cam L has passed the pressurebar If this willcommence to return to its original position by the action of the spring b and rod 0. Its movement, however, is somewhat retarded by the yielding continuation Z of the cam L acting as a spring, and preventing a too sudden action of the bar U. Now the die-block will begin to move upward, and also the shaping-bar U, the former through the action of the eccentrics, and the latter by the springs V V, until the rollers Y Y strike the upper curve Z in the guards X X, and stop said bar, while the-die-block still continues its movement. This stopping the bar U also stops the nail between the dies, and finally discharges the same. Thus the bar U acts as a stripper for the receding die. By this time all the moving parts have returned to their original positions, and the nail is finished, leaving the die perfectly bright and smooth, and of superior quality.

The lengthening of the nail when in th dies affects the spring h in a manner to cause it to recede from the punch, although preserving its horizontalit-y. As soon as the nail is discharged from the dies it will return to its normal position with sufficient momentum to throw the nail backward, clearing the field for the next nail to be acted upon.

The machine, as described, is arranged for a continuous motion. This, however, may not be very desirable for new operators who have not acquired sufficient skill to introduce the nail while the machine is in motion, and for this reason I provide the same with clutches or similar devices, such as are now in common use on power-presses for producing an intermittent motion of the follower and its accessories. I may also construct a self-feeder to deliver the nail-blanks automatically, and-run the machine at a sufficient continuous speed.

If I should find' it necessary I should modify the action of the shaping-bar U by giving to it a reciprocating motion instead of the rocking movement by suitable means, such as cranks, eccentrics, cams, and anti friction rollers, and other well-known agencies, whereby I am enabled to use this machine for other than the special purpose for which I have designed the same, such as shearing and forming knives, forks, spoons, and many other articles that now require separate operations. I I I Having thus fully described my invention, in order to enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. The process of producing machine-finished horseshoe-nails, consisting of first shearing the forged nail by suitably-arranged punches and dies into its proper shape broadwise, and then pose set forth and described.

3.,The rocking shaping-bar U, combined with the springs V V, cam-shaped guards X X, and the rollers Y Y, for the purpose mentioned.

4. The rocking shaping-bar U in combination with the cam L, as described.

5. The rocking bar U, having the toe U, for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned.

6. The combination, with the cam L, of the roller M, shaping-bar U, having the stop m, springs V V, spring 12, cam-shaped guides X X, with the return-curve Z, and therollers Y Y, the whole being constructed and arranged substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the die-block E, of the removable dies P P, retained Within said die-block by the shackle d, set-screw e, and. transverse plate f, substantially as described.

' '8. The combination, with the punch Q, of the curved spring-guides g, constructed and appliedifi the manner and for the object stated.

9. The spring h attached to the bed-plate with one of its extremities, and having on its opposite end two projections to receive the head of the nail to be operated upon, said spring being arranged to partake of the movement of the nail when confined between the cutting-dies, and to discharge the same from the machine, when the nail is released from said dies, substantially as described, for the object stated.

10. The combination, with the standards B 1 B, of the eccentrics H H, connecting-rods N, shaft 0, cam L, rocking bar U, dies P P, and the punch Q, constructed and arranged substantially as described, for the use and purpose stated. p

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDMUND SUOKOW.

Witnesses MICHAEL J. STARK, FRANK HIRSOH. 

